What do you care what other people think?, Richard Feynman, 1988 – Sort of a follow-up to Surely, you’re joking Mr. Feynman, this on similar lines, is a auto-biography collection of shorts. Unlike the earlier book though, bulk of this book is the title chapter, which covers his life with his first wife Arlene. This oozed so much warmth and humanity and showed the side of Feynman from early days in his first marriage.
There are some letters written to, from and about (post death) Feynman which also find their place in the book. I liked how different times were when people would pick a paper and pen and write a letter so frequently when traveling. The rest of the book is on the Challenger disaster and brings out how sharp he was so late in life even as he was terminally ill with Cancer. It reminded me of triaging problems by asking a zillion questions and narrowing down to possible / probable causes.
The smart, witty, humble side of Feynman comes out often in these pieces, especially in his Japanese trips where he would insist he stay in traditional hotels and cause himself a world of trouble just to experience authenticity. His letters from Brussels, Warsaw and Athens to his wife are also a fun read, with his interesting observations of the mundane, of people, places and his food, or his waiting for it. The Challenger investigation is covered in very good detail and forms almost half of the book, so unless you are scientifically minded, Surely, you are joking Mr. Feynman is definitely a better book. If you love Feynman like me, then you are bound to love this, especially first piece on “What do you care what other people think?” which alone is worth buying this book for. 7/10
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